Forevermore /// Taylor Swift

Thirteen

Tw: physical abuse

It was my thirteenth birthday. I'd been on this planet thirteen years. Lived this life thirteen years. Survived for thirteen years.

Looking at my birthday cake, my siblings helped me make. Remembering all the times my parents hurt me over the years, all the times I hid from them, all the times I hoped they'd forget they had kids. Sometimes I think they only had us to hurt us.

"Havie!" My little sister, Maisie, whined at me. She was only 4, with long dark hair like bark of an oak tree and matching chocolate brown eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked her, snapping out of my thoughts.

"You need to make a wish and blow the candle out!" She smiled, her big goofy toothless smile. That reminded me I needed to give her money from the tooth fairy.

"Sorry." I smiled back before blowing the candles out, wishing for what I always wish for. To get us out of this place.

"Happy birthday!" My little brother, Theo, replied. He was 6 years old with similar features to Maisie, you could tell that they were siblings. Me on the other hand looks like I could be adopted with my blonde curly hair and grey ish eyes. They used to be blue, when I was a kid. When I was actually happy. I lived with my uncle for a long time, living the best childhood I could ask for until I was 4 and he died. Some freak accident apparently, I was too young to remember. I just knew I missed him.

"Thanks guys!" I pulled them into a hug.

"What did you wish for?" Maisie asked me innocently.

"She's not allowed to tell you, that's cheating!" Theo argued back. I giggled at their silliness, they were just kids being kids and I wanted that for them for as long as possible.

"You two should head to bed, you've school tomorrow." I cut into their argument. They always do as I say. I'm more their mom than I am their sister.

"Fine." Theo huffed before heading to the bathroom. I tucked Maisie into bed, kissing her forehead.

"Can you sing the bedtime song?" She asked sleepily.

"Please!" Theo came bounding in again.

"Of course." I smiled, the bedtime song was Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift. I fell in love with that song as soon as it came out and it's the only thing that soothes my siblings to sleep. I started to sing, knowing it wouldn't take long for them both to fall asleep.

Once they were asleep, I took the cake downstairs and put it in the fridge as quietly as possible. I didn't want to wake them up but I also didn't know who else was home. I was too tired tonight for anything to start. I made my way up to my room, it was a small box room that only really fit my single bed in.

I sighed, collapsing onto it. I checked my phone to see if I had gotten any birthday messages from friends. To my surprise, no one had texted me not even my best friend, Riley.

I texted her;

Hey girl! Any chance we could meet after school? xx

I knew my siblings had afterschool activities on tomorrow, Riley and I always met on a Monday afterschool. I received no reply before I fell asleep.

The next morning, my alarm went off at 7.12am. I knew I had to get up and get my siblings ready. I was exhausted, same routine day in and day out.

"Mais? Theo?" I knocked on their door, slowly opening it. Maisie was fast asleep and Theo had started to wake up.

"Hey bud." I smiled, he gave me a small wave before getting ready.

I sat on Maisie's bed, stroking her hair gently, "hey baby, you ready to get up?"